In a quiet corner of Highland Village, Bistecca – An Italian Steakhouse feels like a well-kept secret among those who know where to find a serious meal. The name hints at tradition, but the experience delivers something more layered—a convergence of old-world Italian sensibility and the bold confidence of Texas beef. From the moment you walk in, there’s a hush of anticipation, like the kind that comes with real craftsmanship. The dining room is low-lit and elegant without fuss, warmed by the open kitchen and the sound of a steak hitting a hot grill.
The menu is a send up to both Tuscany and Texas. There’s Osso Buco and duck ravioli if you’re inclined toward the romantic, but the dry-aged ribeye is the gravitational center of the place. It arrives with a deep, mineral-rich crust and a warm, red interior that tastes of fire and fat and just enough salt. It’s a steakhouse dish, sure—but it wears a silk tie. House-made pastas like pappardelle with wild mushrooms round out the offerings, and the wine list is smart without being intimidating. Italian reds dominate, as they should, but there’s room for a few unexpected gems.
During one dinner, the Caesar salad was prepared tableside with the kind of ease that only comes from repetition—each anchovy, yolk, and grind of pepper added without ceremony but with complete control. On another evening, the veal chop stole the spotlight. We carved into it one bite at a time, passing it from plate to plate, savoring its pink center and rosemary-scented jus. Desserts follow the classics: silky panna cotta, a sturdy tiramisu, and a limoncello cake that hits all the right notes without overreaching. Service is attentive but unforced—the kind that knows when to lean in and when to let the meal speak for itself.
Whether it’s a splurge meal, a quiet celebration, or just an excuse to eat something slow and deliberate, Bistecca – An Italian Steakhouse earns its place as one of North Texas’s most assured and quietly confident dining rooms.
